Archive for category: Featured

“Candidly, there’s nothing more important to the University of Georgia than its linkage with the agricultural industry. This tour gives the university a chance to showcase what the university does for the agricultural industry and how important that industry is, not only to the state today but to the future of the state.” – UGA President Jere W. Morehead (JD ’80)

Agriculture has a more than $72 billion impact on Georgia’s economy. From the assistance offered through UGA Cooperative Extension to research advances, farmers and food industry leaders rely on UGA’s expertise.

Last week, UGA President Jere W. Morehead saw the close partnership between the agriculture industry and the university as he toured several north Georgia farms, and food processing and biosecurity facilities with Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black, Sen. John Wilkinson, chairman of Georgia state Senate’s Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee; Rep. Terry England, chairman of Georgia state House’s Appropriations Committee; and J. Scott Angle, dean and director of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

With agritourism, poultry and food manufacturing playing key roles in northeast Georgia’s agricultural economy, the tour covered six points of interest. At each stop, farm and plant managers shared ways in which UGA has contributed to their success and ways the university can help in the future.

This year’s tour included visits to:

• Hillside Orchard Farms – Tiger, Georgia
• Tiger Mountain Vineyard – Tiger, Georgia
• Jaemor Farms – Alto, Georgia
• Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network Headquarters – Gainesville, Georgia
• King’s Hawaiian Bakery – Flowery Branch, Georgia
• Sonstegard Foods – Gainesville, Georgia

Continue reading to learn more about the UGA Farm Tour.

Ailsa Von Dobeneck (BS ’07) has built a career on communications and world travel. She’s traveled to locations such as London, Singapore, and Washington, D.C. for her developing government and international relations career. Most recently, however, Ailsa traveled to Los Angeles to display her passion for cooking on the Fox’s MasterChef.

UGA staff member Erin Miller recently spoke with Ailsa regarding her experience on appearing on MasterChef sixth season, her global travels and memories of UGA.

What motivated you to pursue cooking as a passion? Have you always spent a lot of time in the kitchen?

You know how there are some people that live to eat and some that eat to live? I am the former, through and through. After graduating, I took a semester off before I pursued a master’s degree at King’s College in London and decided to spend the time learning to cook. After all, if you love to eat, it is great to know your way around a kitchen. I enrolled in the advanced beginner’s class at the Le Cordon Bleu in London and learned the basics. I have been experimenting ever since and enjoy traveling in search of new and exciting flavors. My career took me to Singapore, where I worked in shipping, and I was able to travel extensively throughout the region. I now work in government affairs in Washington, D.C. I spend my free time looking through old White House cookbooks at the Library of Congress. It is amazing the kind of gems you find in there. Next month, I will be starting a weekly column on presidential recipes in my blog, The Curious Tastebud, which will run through to the election next year.

On your MasterChef contestant page, you described yourself as a “unicorn” because no other contestant possessed your unique set of skills.  What are some of the unique skills that you acquired at UGA? 

I think UGA was the place where I truly started to learn about myself. I discovered what I’m great at, good at and need to work on. I think the skill that I focused on developing first was time-management. Like in the kitchen, you need to be prepared to pace yourself and use your time wisely at UGA. As an out-of-state student, my experience at UGA encouraged me to put myself out there: to introduce myself to people and take risks.

What is a positive MasterChef experience that you’d like to share?

I had so many positive experiences on the show. One of the highlights was getting to prepare a filet for Gordon Ramsay in his own restaurant, Gordon Ramsay Steak, in Las Vegas. I had never been to Vegas and the razzle dazzle of the whole experience was really special. Though my filet didn’t get me to the next round, I was proud of my dish. I also really enjoyed meeting the other talented contestants. One of my favorite fellow contestants went to LSU, so we had some great football banter. Go Dawgs!

You’re an extensive world traveler.  What countries have you visited and would recommend based on their cuisine?

I’ve been lucky with my travel options, as both of my parents are from Europe and I lived in Asia for a time. I am completely in love with Vietnamese cuisine and would recommend a trip to Ho Chi Minh City for anyone who enjoys street food and isn’t afraid to try bold flavors. Italy will always be close to my heart when it comes to edibles. My family spent a lot of time in Venice when I was a kid, where I learned the joy of a big bowl of pasta. For those who aren’t as adventurous, the Italian menu will give you familiar classics made with the best ingredients possible. Gelato anyone?

When you’re at home, what are some of the dishes you like to prepare?

My absolute favorite part of cooking is seeing people enjoy what I have made. I host dinner parties at my house and focus on making dishes you can prepare ahead of time so you have time with your guests. There is nothing worse than an absent hostess. Risotto is a favorite; it is refined and can come in a host of different varieties. I make a gorgeous manchego risotto with chorizo, red peppers and arugula.

What is your favorite memory of UGA? Are there any places in Athens that you remember?

With enough amazing memories to last a lifetime, I am struggling to pick a “favorite.” Watching the Dawgs win Between the Hedges was always amazing. We won the SEC championship my freshman year against LSU in Atlanta. I remember being over the moon that I had chosen the “best university ever.”

Athens also has so many places that stick out in my mind. The Pi Beta Phi house on Milledge brings back a lot of fun memories, from getting ready for formals to decorating the front porch for every holiday imaginable. If we are talking foodie memories, I still dream about the grits from Last Resort. Hugh Acheson from Five and Ten is a real talent and always dished out the tastiest Southern dishes every season. I ran to the bookstore when Acheson’s book, A New Turn in the South, was published.

Is there anything else regarding your career that you’d like to share?

In both my careers (government relations and cooking), my education at UGA has held in me in amazing stead. My time in Athens gave me access to some of the best and brightest professors and allowed me to really channel my energy in positive ways. It is amazing the amount of UGA alumni I have met across the world. It seems Georgia alumni are all connected by a lifelong love of learning and I am really proud to forever be a Bulldog.

To learn more about Ailsa and to see examples of her culinary work, please visit her blog.

A record-breaking number of contributors—63,784 at final count—led the University of Georgia to its best fundraising year in history.

After all contributions were tallied for the year on June 30, the university received nearly $144.2 million in new gifts and commitments for the 2015 fiscal year, a 14 percent increase over last year’s record total of $126.4 million.

“Once again, the University of Georgia community has joined together to provide an unprecedented level of financial support to advance the academic mission of this great institution,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “I am grateful to our generous and loyal alumni and friends for their significant contributions; to the UGA Foundation board of trustees, to the development team, and to the senior leadership across our schools, colleges, and other units for their hard work and dedication; and to our outstanding faculty, staff, and students, who continue to make UGA the very special place that it is.”

The 63,784 donors represent a 12 percent increase over fiscal year 2014, in which 56,897 donors contributed to the institution.

“Having established an all-time fundraising record just one year ago—and to exceed that total by a significant margin just 12 months later—is an incredible tribute to our donors who have stepped up and answered the call to support the university,” said Kelly Kerner, vice president for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

“Words are inadequate to express the depth of appreciation I have for our alumni and friends who have committed their financial resources to help ensure the University of Georgia maintains an upward trajectory as one of the world’s great institutions of higher education.”

Fiscal year 2015 at UGA marks a continuation of significantly increased support from individual donors—no single major gift had a disproportionate impact on the total—and the second year the university has been under Morehead’s direction.

“The university’s development team, support staff and the foundation’s board of trustees all played major roles in this milestone achievement, and I am appreciative of what was truly a team effort,” said Ken Jackson, chair of the University of Georgia Foundation. “Of course, I am most grateful to our donors, who continue to exhibit a great spirit of generosity and a commitment to enhancing the academic mission of the University of Georgia.”

Former UGA Gymdog, Marcia Newby-Goodman (BSA ’10), was recently named co-valedictorian of the University of Texas Medical Branch Class of 2015.

Marcia always knew she’d pursue a career in medicine. Despite battling a chronic ankle injury during her senior year at UGA, Marcia achieved momentous athletic and academic success at UGA. Between balancing two three-hour MCAT courses a week, rigorous gymnastics training, and classes, Marcia devoted her spare time to serving the greater Athens-Clarke community.

Her efforts at UGA won her numerous awards and accolades—including the prestigious NCAA TOP VIII Award, which is presented annually to eight outstanding student-athletes across the nation and recognizes outstanding athletic, academic, community service and leadership accomplishments.

As a recent medical school graduate, she hopes to combine her passion for sports, medicine and service to open an adolescent and young adult sports medicine clinic.

The UGA Alumni Association’s strategic communications intern, Lauren Steffes ’15, had the opportunity to catch up with this outstanding alumna:

What is your favorite UGA memory?

My favorite memory as a student was when my roommates and I would have random dance parties in our dorm. They were always fun because we would act silly and just do crazy things. These random dance parties always seemed to occur around finals because we never wanted to study!

How did UGA help you achieve your goals – both professionally and athletically?

UGA definitely helped prepare me academically for medical school. Since UGA had a tough curriculum, I was able to develop efficient studying skills that allowed me to complete my medical school work but still have time to hang with friends to minimize stress levels. This was a great skill because it ensured a smoooth transition to medical school.

Athletically, UGA (specifically Coach Suzanne Yoculan) taught me the value of teamwork and its application within athletics and outside of the gym. This lesson helped me contribute to UGA’s NCAA National Championship in 2007, 2008, and 2009 as well as UGA’s SEC Championship in 2008.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of from your time as a student?

My most proud accomplishment from my time as a student actually is not an award, honor, or anything that special. Simply, I am most proud of the true friendships I made during my college years. Developing those friendships to the point that they are maintained several years after graduation is amazing and provides a personal joy.

What led you to pursue a career in medicine?

From an early age, I knew I wanted to become a doctor. My father is a doctor and my mother is a nurse practitioner, so I was always around medicine in some capacity, but my true passion for it came through personal experiences as a gymnast. Having injuries myself and seeing other teammates with injuries engaged my curiosity in learning how to care for injuries but to also understand the needs of those who are injured or sick.

What advice would you give to current students at UGA?

My advice to others would be to go after your dreams no matter what. You may have to take a different route than others, but don’t let obstacles deter you from your path. Remember to always work hard at every task because there is always something to learn and you never know when it may be useful! And finally, enjoy the ride because life is more than the final destination.

Marcia is married to former UGA football player Demiko Goodman (BSFCS ’08). The two plan to move to Daytona Beach, Florida, where Newby-Goodman will attend a family medicine residency. The UGA community is proud to call them both members of the Bulldog family.

To learn more about Marcia Newby-Goodman (BSA ’10) and her various accomplishments, click here.